Restaurant possession granted

A JUDGE in the Circuit Civil Court has granted a landlord an order for possession of the Gourmet Burger Company restaurant in Ranelagh, Dublin.

Barrister Liam Bell said Brenda Farrell had in 2007 agreed a lease of the restaurant at Ranelagh Road, Ranelagh Village, with Gaudice Ltd, which trades as the Gourmet Burger Company.

The court heard yesterday the restaurant had paid only part of the €80,000 annual rent in 2009, and had withheld payments since May 2010. Ms Farrell sued Gaudice Ltd, of Embassy House, Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin, and company chief executive and chef Jonathan Dockrell for rent arrears of €175,000 and the return of the premises.

Ms Farrell, of Bloomfield Park Apartments, Bloomfield Avenue, Donnybrook, Dublin, told the Circuit Court president that Mr Dockrell had sought a further cut in rent. She refused as he had not honoured original agreements. Mr Dockrell told the court he was ready to pay €20,000 upfront and a further €42,000 by way of monthly rental payments of €3,500.

Judge Deery said the parties had made no realistic progress. It was not clear how the rent would be paid in future due to the restaurant’s circumstances, and granted Ms Farrell an order for possession with a decree for €175,000.